Highly touted pianist joins symphony for three Bs

The three Bs — Bach, Beethoven and Brahms — will take the spotlight with pianist Jane Coop as the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra kicks off 59th season next week.

Described as “an artist of unusual distinction” (in a New York Daily News review), Coop has performed across Canada, as well as all over the world. She is the recipient of many awards culminating with the Order of Canada bestowed on her in 2012.

Coop has recorded 16 CDs and has proudly remained a member of the teaching faculty of the University of British Columbia for many years.

She is also much in demand internationally as a jury member for piano competitions.

She will be featured in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, one of this composer’s most lyrical works.

Coop is a renowned performer of Beethoven’s works. An Ottawa Citizen reviewer wrote: “As for Coop, there may be a better Beethoven pianist around, but I’ve yet to hear one.”

“We are all so thrilled to welcome Jane Coop, a legend among Canadian pianists to our stages” said OSO Music Director, Rosemary Thomson. “Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto showed that this composer, renowned for his driving rhythms and abrupt dynamic changes, could also write in a more intimate style that simply makes the piano sing.”

The program will open with the Orchestral Suite No. 1 by Johann Sebastian Bach, a collection of dances from the Baroque era.

Finally, Johannes Brahms’ romantic Serenade No. 1 will close the show.

Shows are Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Kelowna and Penticton and Sunday at 7 p.m. in Vernon.

The Kelowna show is at the community theatre at the corner of Doyle and Ellis downtown. Tickets are available through Kelowna Tickets, which now located on Enterprise Way.

The Penticton show is at the Cleland Theatre. Tickets can be bought in person at the Shatford Centre or by phone from Kelowna Tickets, 1-888-974-9170.

Vernon tickets are available through Ticket Seller.

Tickets for all shows are also available at okanagansymphony.com.